Scientists Turn Mario into an Artificial Intelligence

Scientists from the University of Tübingen in Germany have made Mario, star of the Super Mario games, self-aware, able to think, talk, and learn. The project, called ‘Mario Lives!’, was created to compete in the annual competition run by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), and is a modification of the Super Nintendo classic Super Mario World.

As one of the researchers explains, “As most of you know, this is Mario. But what you do not know is that this Mario has become aware of himself and his environment – at least to a certain extent.”

Mario is aware of his environment and has his own internal emotive states. He can also be externally influenced by the research team, so when told that he shouldn’t feel happy, Mario responds, “Somehow, I feel less happy.” Mario is later asked what he learned after jumping on a Goomba. He answers, “If I jump on Goomba, then it maybe dies.”

The AAAI Video Competition 2015: People’s Choice Award takes place on 29th January in Austin, Texas.